Discipline of Enterprise Innovation and Impact

Dr. Sumati Ahuja is the program director of the Digital Creative Enterprise major at the UTS Business School. Sumati is an academic with an impressive background of working in industry for over 25 years and teaching in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs for over 10 years. Her experience as an architect, educator and researcher condenses a unique trans-disciplinary orientation across the fields of Design, Innovation and Management. Sumati applies her considerable knowledge of creative thinking and practices in the design and delivery of her undergraduate and executive education courses at the UTS Business School.

Sumati's trans-disciplinarity underpins her research interests. Her research examines the changing world of work; how technology is changing the work of human experts and the impact of these changes on workers' and their emotional well being. She uses design perspectives to explore the value of design to business and social enterprise and how design-led innovation can be leveraged across a wide range of private and public sector organisations. Her work appears in leading international, peer reviewed journals and has been internationally recognised. Her research continues to influence practitioner communities through engagements with industry partners that have led to beneficial outcomes for partner organisations through improved strategies and practices that drive both business and societal change.

Sumati's PhD focused on the changing nature of professional work and explored the implications for the future of expert work. She is Winner of the UTS Business School Research Award (2022) for Early career researchers (ECRs), finalist in the prestigious international Grigor McClelland Doctoral Dissertation Award (2019) for most innovative PhD research in management and organization studies and winner, Best Paper Award for Journal of Professions and Organizations (2017) . Sumati was nominated for the UTS Medal of Excellence in Teaching and Research (2020).

HIGHLIGHTS

Simone Faulkner (nee Grabowski) is an advocate for communities and marginalised groups with her research focusing on shaping a sustainable future with initiatives that make a real impact.

Simone is a distinguished figure in the field of mobilities research at the UTS Business School, blending academia and industry expertise. Simone’s research is specifically focused on sustainable tourism, volunteerism, community development, and cross-cultural diversity management

At present, Simone spearheads two research initiatives – 'Ethical Travel in Cambodia' and ‘Transition of Commencing Business Students’. These projects not only delve into the ethical dimensions of tourism and education, but also investigate the unique experiences of the people at the heart of the experience.

Simone's commitment extends beyond research in the field; she also collaborates with UTS and external professional associations to investigate the crucial aspect of student belonging within academic programs. It's not just education; it's about fostering a sense of community and integration within the industry that will hold them in good stead for the rest of their careers.

Since 2007, Simone has been imparting her extensive knowledge in management and international business to eager minds at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has been instrumental in redesigning core subjects in the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Management. In addition, she has played a leading role in engaging industry clients to work with students on their final year projects, giving UTS students the skills required for their future careers.

Simone is currently the subject coordinator of 'Managing for Social Impact' and 'Diversity Management'. Here she equips students with critical thinking skills, global awareness, and practical application, fostering a new generation of socially conscious leaders prepared to navigate diverse workplaces and positively impact society.

In addition to being a highly regarded researcher and educator, Simone plays a pivotal role as the Faculty First and Further Year Experience Student Transition Coordinator, supporting students and staff alike. Simone received a UTS Learning and Teaching award in 2021 and UTS Business School 'Education and Student Experience Award' in 2024 which demonstrate this impact.

But Simone's impact doesn't stop there. As a Category 1 doctoral supervisor, she is actively shaping the next generation of industry leaders and researchers, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the field. Her doctoral students have published widely in top journals, communicated their research impact at numerous international conferences, and gone on to innovate in academia or industry.

She is Vice-President of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies (ANZALS), serves on the Editorial Advisory Boards of Event Management and Annals of Leisure Research, and co-chairs the UTS Business School Social Justice and Inclusion Committee.

Dr Anja Hergesell is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Management at the UTS Business School. Prior to this appointment, Anja worked at UTS in various other positions including as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, and taught and researched at universities in Austria and Denmark.

Anja has been involved in a number of research projects over the years. In particular, projects focused on consumer behaviour, impact assessment, sustainable development, disability and diversity management, and teaching & learning.

Anja teaches event management subjects in the undergraduate and postgraduate Management programs. She holds a Master’s degree from Bournemouth University and a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences from Vienna University of Economics and Business. In her PhD thesis she investigated portfolio choices, and the role of  personal characteristics and product attributes on those choices to understand the determinents of environmentally friendly consumer behaviour.

Dr Ece Kaya serves as Senior Lecturer and HDR Coordinator in the School of Management, Enterprise, Innovation and Impact Discipline at UTS Business School and is a member of the UTS Centre for Sport, Business and Society. Her research focuses on gender equity, leadership, inclusion, and social impact in sport, as well as interests in urban transformation, industrial heritage, and placemaking through events. Her current research explores experiences of women, girls, and participants from diverse backgrounds in Australian surfing, examining barriers to participation and pathways to more inclusive surf cultures.

Ece brings extensive academic experience from Western Sydney University, where she completed her PhD in heritage and tourism studies at the Institute for Culture and Society. She also holds an M.Sc. in urban planning. She is the author of Transformation of Sydney's Industrial Historic Waterfront: The Production of Tourism for Consumption.

Dr. Helena Li is a Senior Lecturer at UTS Business School at the University of Technology Sydney. She received her Ph.D. in 2018 from Zhejiang University, China, and was a visiting scholar at The University of Sydney and The University of Melbourne for one year during her PhD candidature. She has been the subject coordinator for three undergraduate subjects: Introduction to International Business, Transnational Management, and IB Capstone and one MBA class: Global Strategic Management. 

Helena Li’s research examines how organizations and leaders navigate an increasingly complex world shaped by (de)globalization, technological disruption, and societal challenges. Her overarching goal is to generate insights that help organizations create both economic and societal value through effective strategy, innovation, and responsible leadership.

Her work sits at the intersection of global strategy, innovation, sustainability, and public policy, with a particular focus on two interconnected themes. First, she investigates how organizations learn, innovate, and adapt in response to changing institutional environments, emerging technologies, and global opportunities. Second, she explores how organizations, governments, and other stakeholders collaborate to address grand societal challenges such as sustainability, environmental protection, and inclusive growth.

A central thread across her research is understanding how external institutions and internal leadership jointly shape organizational decision-making. In particular, she examines how government–organization interactions, public policies, political environments, and leaders’ experiences and capabilities influence strategic choices, innovation outcomes, and broader societal impact.

Her research has been published in leading international journals, including Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Global Strategy Journal, Regional Studies, International Business Review, Journal of International Management, and Asia Pacific Journal of Management.

Research Substream 1: Global Strategy, Innovation, and Technological Change 

Research Substream 2: Sustainability and Social Impact

Helena Li was one of the chief investigators for several research projects on lifting Australian firms’ managerial capabilities funded by the Australian Federal Government. She also worked with the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) and developed a report on ‘Dynamic Capabilities in Australia pre- and post-COVID’. She is the Associate Editor for two journals: Multinational Business Review and Business & Society. She also serves on the editorial reviewing board for Journal of Production Innovation Management, Business & Society, Management and Organization Review, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, and continues to review for prestigious journals in the field of strategy and management, such as Organization Science, Journal of Management Studies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Business Ethics, Global Strategy Journal, Journal of International Business Policy, and Journal of International Management.

Beyond academia, Helena actively contributes to public debate by translating management research into accessible insights on contemporary business and societal issues. Her work has appeared in The Conversation, SBS News, the Australian Financial Review, and other media outlets.

Dr Rayan Merkbawi is a Senior Lecturer and Subject Coordinator at UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney. Her work brings together organisation studies, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social impact. She focuses in particular on legitimacy, power and the social role of business and universities.

Her research spans CSR, media studies, higher education and women's entrepreneurship. She draws on theories of institutional legitimacy and academic capitalism to examine how CSR works as a strategic rather than neutral practice, and how universities respond to neoliberal and populist pressures. A long-term stream of her work looks at gender, work and entrepreneurship.

Rayan currently coordinates Business and Social Impact, a large first-year undergraduate subject, where she leads a team of tutors. Her teaching encourages students to think critically about CSR as a strategic rather than neutral practice. It connects students with contemporary issues of social responsibility and decent work through industry partnerships, case-based simulations and conversations with practitioners. She is committed to inclusive practice for diverse student cohorts, and was nominated for the UTS Medal for integrated teaching and learning. She also supervises doctoral research and serves on the university's ethics panel. In addition, she represents UTS in low-SES communities, working with schools in South Western Sydney and co-hosting a large seminar with industry partners on student career aspiration and development.

Rayan holds a PhD (Business) from the University of Technology Sydney. Her thesis examined political CSR and business ethics in the context of confessional democracy. Her research has been funded by the UTS Social Impact Grant, the UTS Centre for Social Justice, UTS Business School, the University of Sharjah and BRG. She translates her research for public audiences through media engagement and as a TEDx speaker. Her talk, "The Digital Evolution: Bridging Technology with Human Values," explored how digital platforms can amplify social movements and youth voices.

Mark lectures in social impact and social change at UTS Business School. His research focusses on the politics of civil society.

Before entering academia, Mark worked as a media and policy adviser in NSW Parliament, an advocacy and communications manager at Community Legal Centres NSW, and as the collaborative research and policy manager at the Sydney Policy Lab. He has operated a strategic consultancy for over a decade supporting various nonprofits and small business devise organisational and communications strategies. Mark is passionate about supporting nonprofits and other civil society organisations to meet the needs and aspirations of communities.

Dr Lloyd Rothwell is a Lecturer of Management at the UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, where his teaching and research sit at the intersection of sport management, organisational leadership, and social network analysis.

Lloyd's research examines CEO succession and executive networks in Australian sport, drawing on social network analysis and interviews to understand how leadership transitions are shaped by social structure and gender. He has published in edited volumes, presented at international conferences including NASSM and Sunbelt, and has published articles in journals such as Sport Management Review. His work contributes to broader conversations about governance, diversity, and leadership pipelines in Australian sport.

He is a member of the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ), the Australian Society for Sports History (ASSH), the Australian Historical Association (AHA), and the International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA). Lloyd is Associate Editor of Sporting Traditions, journal of ASSH.

Lloyd's teaching spans sport business, events, management, and social impact across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He brings research-informed, industry-connected teaching to his students and is committed to developing them as critical thinkers, strong communicators, and effective networkers equipped for careers in a dynamic and complex environment. He has also written for Australasian Leisure Management and Stadium Journey, demonstrating an ability to translate knowledge for broader industry and public audiences.

Beyond academia, Lloyd has an extensive career as a sport management practitioner specialising in aquatics, having held senior leadership roles across local government, private enterprise, schools, universities, and registered clubs. He has led organisations through start-up, strategic growth, and major infrastructure projects and is recognised as an expert in aquatic education and swim school management. His practical experience across diverse organisational contexts informs both his research perspective and his approach to teaching the next generation of sport managers.

Lloyd is also a committed community advocate. He served three years on the Board of Directors of Parkinson's NSW and continues to participate in fundraising for Parkinson's research.

Nico Schulenkorf is Professor of Sport Management and Co-Director of the Centre for Sport, Business and Society at UTS. He is passionate about using sport as a vehicle for community development and his research focuses on the social, cultural and health-related outcomes of sport and event projects. For more than two decades, Nico has been leading sport-for-development and health promotion studies in countries such as Sri Lanka, Israel and the Pacific Islands. He has been working with local and international NGOs, Government Departments and Agencies, as well as Sport Organisations to develop capacities for the strategic planning, implementation, evaluation, and overall advancement of sport-for-development projects on a global scale.

Nico is a member of the Olympic Refuge Foundation's Think Tank and holds a Research Fellowship at the Centre for Sport Leadership at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He is Associate Editor of Sport Management Review and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Sport for Development and the European Journal of Sport and Society. Nico's latest co-authored books are Managing and Leveraging Events: Business and Social Dimensions (Routledge, 2022); Managing Global Sport Events: Logistics and Coordination (Emerald, 2022); and Global Sport Leadership (Routledge, 2019). He has also co-edited Managing Sport Development: An International Approach (Routledge, 2024); the Handbook of Sport and International Development (Edward Elgar, 2023); the Handbook of Sport and Covid-19 (Routledge, 2022); and Physical Activity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (Routledge, 2022).

Nico is a SMAANZ Research Fellow and six-time winner of the UTS Postgraduate Business Prize for Teaching Excellence. For his long-term contribution to the advancement of social justice on an international level, he has previously been awarded the UTS Vice Chancellor's Human Rights Award.

Jochen Schweitzer is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School and the Director of UTS's Executive MBA. Recently, he co-founded the UTS Innovation & Entrepreneurship Collaborative (IEC) with Martin Bliemel to unite 30 UTS researchers interested in evidence-based innovation policy and productivity improvements. 

Before becoming an academic, Jochen worked as a Principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Strategy practice, advising private and government organisations on various issues, such as growing corporate innovation capabilities and developing strategic innovation performance. He received his PhD in Strategic Management from UTS.

Jochen's research interests lie at the intersection of entrepreneurship, design, innovation, and strategy. His work has been published in top-tier academic journals, including the Journal of Product Innovation Management and Long Range Planning, and has been widely cited. He has also received numerous awards, such as the Best Paper Award at the Academy of Management.

Apart from his academic pursuits, Jochen is an active member of the entrepreneurship community and has mentored and advised numerous startups. He is also a sought-after speaker and consultant on strategy and innovation. His passion for teaching has earned him multiple teaching awards and nominations, including the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award at UTS. He has taught a range of courses at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and delivered executive training and enterprise learning.

With his expertise, Jochen is a highly respected academic and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field. His dedication to mentoring the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and his involvement in the entrepreneurship community make him a valuable asset to the business and broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Lewis has broad research interests including not-for-profit management, volunteering, fundraising, sport management, event management and leadership. His doctoral thesis was on relational leadership in the context of professional sport. Lewis has also researched in other areas including governance, accounting, precarious employment, sustainability, and innovation. Lewis has been a part of the UTS Business School since 2018, teaching across management, sport, and events. Prior to entering academia he worked with a number of sporting organisations including AFL, Cricket Australia and Police Citizens Youth Clubs NSW.